Happy New Year 2025

January 1, 2025.  To welcome in 2025, I was invited to join Windbreaker nextgen/son Greg for an early morning ride to Pasadena to partake in the 136th Rose Parade fun.  Meetup was bright & early (6:30 a.m. at Philz Coffee in Claremont), then wheels down heading west to the APU/Citrus A-Line rail station in Azusa. Following a short train ride to Downtown Pasadena, we debarked the train at Raymond Ave., riding north to our planned coffee stop at Copa Vida in Old Pasadena.  We then rode east along Green Street, one block south of the Colorado Blvd. parade route and the throngs of people along both street frontages.  At Wilson Ave., we were able to squeeze ourselves in to view some of the floats and bands participating in the parade.  With another train to catch at the El Monte Metrolink station, we rode south through East Pasadena, Arcadia and Temple City, through old neighborhoods of our youth.  The 11:00 a..m. Metrolink returned us to Upland, arriving at 12 noon.  A great ride and day...Happy New Year 2025!

A warm cup at Copa Vida in Old Pasadena

Catching some parade action at the intersection of 
 Colorado Blvd. & Wilson Ave.

Goodbye 2024!

Saturday, December 28, 2024.  A cold, crisp morning greeted the lads as we gathered at Benson/Baseline for a last Saturday morning ride of 2024.  We followed a familiar route through Windbreaker country; Baseline, Bonita, then Via Verde through the Covina Hills, then returning on Badillo through San Dimas, then for a coffee stop in Downtown Claremont.  We closed out our 20th year together as a merry band of cycling brothers, with anticipation and looking forward to more adventures ahead.

Gathered at our favorite viewpoint (affectionately known as 
"Puddingstone Pass"), along Via Verde at Bonelli Regional Park.
Ride On!

Season's Greetings!

 

Season's Greetings from the Windbreakers...Ride On!

Ride Report: Windbreakers Special Edition - California Roll 2024

December 14, 2024.  As we neared the end of another fantastic cycling year, and with the busy holiday season upon us, a few of the troops gathered on a cool, late fall Saturday morning for a ride to the beautiful Orange County coastline.  Following the drive to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, (ARTIC) it was "wheels down" at 7:45 am, then south along the Santa Ana River Trail toward the coast.  We left the trail in Costa Mesa, following nice bike routes through Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Newport Beach around Upper Newport Bay.  Following a stop at Juliette's in Newport for coffee, we commenced north along Pacific Coast Hwy past Huntington and Bolsa Chica State Beaches.  At Warner Ave. we turned east back toward the Santa Ana River Trail and the return ride back to ARTIC.  A beautiful ride totaling approximately 52 miles....Ride On!

The lads gather for a post-ride photo in front of ARTIC in Anaheim.
L to R: Tom, Mike, Joe, John.

Our route map for the day.

Happy Cranksgiving 2024

November 23, 2024. The lads gathered on a cool fall morning for a beautiful pre-Thanksgiving week spin and end-of-ride coffee at Butter.  Happy Thanksgiving to all, and Ride On!

On Woodview Rd. along the north edge of Chino Hills State Park.

Celebrating 20 Years!

October 27, 2024.  Many of the Windbreakers and members of the extended club family gathered recently at the Cask n' Cleaver restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of our beloved club.  It all started when Ridemaster Joe and MapBoy John got together for a ride around Puddingstone on a cool fall morning in September, 2004.  Since then, we have covered hundreds of thousands miles, in six western states, enjoying our passion for cycling together.  Ride On!

Ride Report: Italy and Croatia

The streets of Bologna

October 4, 2024.  From a recent trip to Italy and Croatia, three bike tours in iconic, historic cities. Ride On!

Dubrovnik

Along the medieval walls of historic Lucca